Saturday, December 28, 2013

Baby and Wedding

                              Baby Update and Wedding Report


The baby has grown, Bill III and Cris got married (Atlanta, October) and we have had an exciting few months at the Sharktank (home) as well as Tanque de Tiburon (da boat). 

First, Ms Mina Rose is now 8 months old.  She has been a doll and we have enjoyed some visits to Mesa to play with the baby and a little babysitting, as well. Here is a flash update in pics:

Here first portrait at 7 days:
 She did a lot of this:
Amber helped me babysit for a week in August, I think,,,altho, refused diaper duty...
oh, Mina had a brace on for 2 months for a potential hip dysplasia - which has thankfully resolved thanks to Cristy's diligence in using the brace 24/7 - it did make diaper changing a challenge. 

 After the June-July 3 week sail with Grandma and Grandpa (see prior Blog), We took Dan home and visited daughter Marty, Amber and Chase en tow. Here are the kids including Dan's sister, Jamie - Michael is now away with the USMC!  A&C stayed another week before they flew home to Dallas.

                                  Ok now Mina is ready -  football season prep for her dad:
                                                   Halloween as Snow White:
                                                            Swim lessons started:
                                               7 months check-up:  22.5# and 96% of chunky:
                                                             With Grandma (Linda):
                                 Christmas eve with the Galaviz'....Xzavier spends a few days
                                            a week with them and turned 2 in August:
                                        Christmas with Grandma and Grandpa in Sierra Vista:
                                                             Posing under out tree:
                                        And now on to shopping.  Yes, I guess it is in the genes....:
                                                         Cristy and Mina out to lunch:
And Grandma gets another few days of babysitting in Mesa in January - 
before we head south to sail for the spring. :-)

On to the BIG wedding! 
 Last year was Cristy and Tony in Maui and this year, Bill III and Cris tied the knot Oct 11th in Atlanta.  The did a first class job at organizing the gathering and the events. Here is the final product:

 And the whole wedding party below.  Cris' family is Brazilian so had people from Miami and Brazil.  Her nieces were the flower girls and were adorable. The Pattison clan also gathered from all over.  Pattison's on the right except Chase who joined his new Brazilian buddy on the left.




 We stayed a few days after with Bill as Cris had to fly back to Miami as she is in a 27 month nurse anesthetist (CRNA) program there. This is the perfect couple - totally in love and it shows, super smart, motivated, working hard at their careers and spending time with family. They are also a  very cute couple.  We are proud of them. Had a great time at the wedding.



 Cris' sister and mom sent US flowers to the house!  Thanks!


                               We lunched and toured Atlanta with Bill III - had a great time!



Back to the wedding events:


                                       Here we were at the wedding rehearsal dinner:
                                                   Bill and his sisters - Vicky, Tiffany, Bill and Marty.

        And here are the grand kids that attended - Jamie, Rylie, Daniel, Chase, Michael (USMC) and Amber.

Now for the the three girls with Dad:

                                            Then there was us....
                               Wedding day arrived and we are waiting for the event to start......
                                          here is Jamie, Chase, Dan, Amber and Michael's GF Diana.

                                             Goofing off with Dad - that's Marty!

                                                   Rylie,Amber, Linda.....
                                          Waiting for the Bride and Groom ..... with Chase.
                         Lindsey, Vicky's husband and Chase' dad behind....and then there is Dan :-) .....LOL.
                      Ok Cris you can smile now.  What was Bill looking for - a way out?  Too late!
                                MY wedding dress I found last year in La Paz....worked perfect.
                                      Dan, Amber and Chase hanging out after the ceremony.
                                          The reception tables were gorgeous - loved all the roses!
                                                          And then there was cake...

                               Chase was the star dancer of the evening. Little Wild Man.
                                               Grandpa led the Conga Line, though.

                                         Oh yeah, there goes Chase again.  LOVES to dance.

 Even Aunt Karen flew out from TUC (Bill's sister) and here she is entertaining one of the flower girls.

                              Picnic the next day at Bill and Cris'....musta wore out Michael and Diana?
 

 Back to the Atlanta touring with Bill III....This is the Olympic park from 1996 (I was there then, too).
 At the Atlanta Aquarium - pretty awesome place. They have several huge whale sharks in a pretty gigantic tank. BTW, you can actually scuba dive with them. (We look forward to natural sightings in the Baja again...maybe swim with them.)

 At the top of the world...at the rotating restaurant on top the Wyndam, I think.  What a view.

Happy New Year!  We head south in a few weeks and back to sail blogging....

Sunday, July 14, 2013

DAN DOES BAJA

WE KIDNAPPED DAN ......for a month! 


He arrived mid- June and we came to San Carlos, MEX a few days later.  It was hot hot hot but we survived 4 days in the hotel as we got the boat ready.  Tried some snorkeling (a bit murky) and local food and drink. Explored San Carlos and Guaymas on errands.


The boat looks so...small??? Dan can attest that one of the salon sofas is at least 6' but no longer...being 6'2"...he barely fit. He was a good sport!


 The Sea of Cortez Beach Club, again.

 El Mirador, the lookout point in San Carlos.

 Una cerveza, por favor.
 Prepping the dinghy on a run to Marina Real for snacks.
 Snorkeling in front of the hotel.


Next stop, Bahia de Los Angeles but not in CA! To get to BLA, we made several stops heading into the north Sea of Cortez toward the midriff islands. From Algodones Bay to Las Cocinas, we thin headed to Isla Tiburon and Los Perros (Dog Bay), on to Partida, Bahia Don Juan and finally into BLA for a "town", of sorts.  


 Cockpit and foredeck sitting is inevitable in a passage.
 Occasional food was cooked, as well....even tho the galley was Hot as Hades!

 Oh and some laundry en route as well.
 BBQ for dinner!
 Dan drives...and likes the auto pilot!
 At anchor in a bay!
 Mexican Train dominoes!!
 Several great schools of dolphin - wow.

 At the beach after a snorkel....

 Beer and hotdogs...what not to like? Um I believe that was grandpa's beer....

With some rolly seas, we did a few ups and downs and it took Dan a few days to get his sea legs.  After helping Bill in a very hot engine room area, he finally got over the queasies. The winds varied from 5-20 knots but often on our nose 0 unusual for this time of year!

 From BLA and south, we made stops at Animas Slot and Bahia San Francisquita and on to Santa Rosalia. Then the 17 hour crossing back to San carlos...back to the resort while we clean and unload the boat.  Fast trip altho Dan thought 5-7 mph was sooo slow!  LOL.

Thanks for joining us, Dan!! Grandpa and Grandpa